The Initiative, made possible through a generous grant from the Whitaker Foundation, consists of programs for children and adults alike. One facet of the initiative is the Adopt-a-School program. The adopted schools receive a higher level of involvement from Jazz St. Louis including in-school performances, master classes, clinics and lectures. These services are provided at no cost to the schools involved and attempt to integrate jazz into areas other than music, such as: language arts, social studies, and history. While this program creates a basic understanding and appreciation of jazz for students, the goals of the program are also to shape character, broaden cross-cultural understanding, and promote critical thinking.

The Initiative also supports Jazz Perspectives, a Jazz Lecture Series presented in conjunction with The Center for the Humanities at Washington University. The Jazz Perspectives features noted jazz writers, critics, poets and musicians discussing jazz and its influences on American culture.

genericpicture: